Master Hossein Behzad(Miniaturist) 1991

Morteza Katouzian's portrait of Master Hossein Behzad feels like a study in light and shadow, made with what looks like pastel or charcoal on a toned ground. The beauty of this piece lies in how it embraces the process of artmaking. The artist hasn't tried to hide the underdrawing or the initial sketches. The lines are confident, almost playful, dancing across the paper and capturing the essence of the subject. Look at the rendering of the face, where the artist uses delicate strokes and smudges to create the illusion of depth and volume. You can almost feel the texture of the paper beneath the pastel, creating this wonderful interplay between surface and image. The soft focus areas make it feel timeless, a little like a daguerrotype. Katouzian is one of the greats, a master realist, who reminds me a little of Odd Nerdrum in his commitment to classical painting techniques. Ultimately, it’s a reminder that art is a conversation, a dialogue across time and cultures.